2011 CLONMEL JUNCTION FESTIVAL To Open July 1

In 2009, Clonmel Junction Festival introduced the innovative Cafes Carte Blanche programme, an initiative whereby empty shops and premises were taken over and converted into artists' spaces offering along with a coffee the opportunity to engage in a variety of arts activities. These cafes have been a huge success and are completely free - both the coffee and the experience.

Last year over 6,000 people passed through the seven cafes over the ten days of the Festival. This year, CJF has commissioned sound artist Maurice Caplice, writer and social choreographer Jeffrey Gormley, story tellers Nina Tanis and Fiona Dowling, Hip hop and break dance facilitator Banxy and Clonmel Artist Collective Arthive to host cafes in the town. Opening hours: Fri 1st July: 4-6pm/ Sat 2nd to Sat 9th July: 11-6pm (except Sun: 2-6pm) The location of the Café venues are around the town - go to www.junctionfestival.com/cafescarteblanche for exact locations
This year's theme is Cafés Carte Blanche III: The Soul Salons. In the 2011 Clonmel Junction Festival the Cafés Carte Blanche have a strong community link as they aim to strengthen people's resilience and belief in their ability to improve and change their lives. They are 'Soul Salons' places to go to pamper and discover yourself in the company of others, share skills, pick up new knowledge, explore unchartered territories and discuss new areas. Here is the opportunity to have exciting experiences and uncover new talents that you never knew you had, new ideas you never knew existed. And all for free!

The Cafes .....

Sound Lab with Maurice Caplice and associates
Artist Maurice Caplice will be setting up The Sound Lab where he will be joined by guest artists and musicians who will be rethinking ways of hearing and seeing sound. Sound Art is a rich area of contemporary art making; a place where sound is just another tool in the artists bag of tricks, to be used towards an idea and not the other way round. So whether you are a musician, a DJ, a sound engineer, an artist in search of a new discipline, or just an interested
visitor, come explore the exciting world of sound art in all its forms. Bring your instruments, your voice, an old tin can or a motorized fan; the limits to noise are endless.

Storyhouse with Nina Tanis and Fiona Dowling.
Stories foster empathy and assist in understanding our own cultural heritage as well as that of others'. In our technological age, modern storytelling is an invaluable tool using the simple power of the human voice to teach, comfort, and entertain. In Storyhouse, you are invited to practice and partake in creative storytelling, workshops, games, and activities with a twist, that will help you find a personal style and become more comfortable with your ability to tell stories, practice new ones or sharpen old ones. Or you can simply drop by for a cuppa and watch and listen.

BREAKBOX CAFÉ Banxy
Hip-Hop/ Breaking and B'boy Girl workshops will form part of the Café where we will work with local dancers and community with a crash course in the original foundation of breakin'. All workshops offer participants the chance to learn new and challenging moves, explore their own creativity and engage positively with others whilst learning in a fun and safe environment. Workshops/classes from aged 5 + will be individually tailored to meet the needs and experience levels of each group. Opportunities for showcase performances for a wide range of groups and participants- from amateur to proficient and guest slots by Matt Bailey and Joey D. of Rannel Theatre Company will be included.

Solar Café with the Art Hive artists' collective
Art Hive will create a hot art space which echoes the upbeat feeling generated by the heat of the summer sun on your face: Pure gold... Yellow will be strongly featured in the space with its association with laughter, happiness, self-knowledge, creativity and good times. Art Hive's Solar Space will offer a range of drop-in and structured creative workshops for the public, using a wide range of creative processes such as clay sculptures, theatrical installations, suspended multiple artworks, wall-based painting, print techniques, textiles and experiential art where the viewer becomes an active part of the artwork.

Dream City with Jeffrey Gormly
Dreams are a trapdoor for the mind into a parallel universe of fantastic adventure and hidden knowledge. Through this portal,all kinds of inspirational ideas and strange intuitions leak into our waking lives, providing us all with
the power, strength and creativity to move on, make change, and follow our hearts' desire. During a visit to Dream City you may become drawn into activity that translates the bizarre logic of dream into art, or be inspired
by the dream journeys of others. The menu features beautiful music, social dreaming get-togethers, free association, and lots of nooks and crannies where you can catch up on your own dreamtime.

Suir River Café with Lyn Mather, Landscape Interface Studio & South Tipp County Heritage Office
Suir River Café welcomes you to explore the watery world of the Suir, as we travel with it on its journey's past, present and future. Navigate your way through our artistic installations, multimedia creations and community mapping, where your ideas and thoughts on the river and how we can integrate the river into our communities and our lives will be explored. We hope to rekindle a connection with the river that has shaped not only the landscape but also our town and our past livelihoods. The Café will be a space to reflect and contemplate memories and create a shared vision of how we can help the river flow into the future. Come and be inspired! Your
river needs you!

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in Rural Areas Clonmel Junction Festival acknowledges the support from South Tipperary Development Company, The Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs and the EU

Clonmel Junction Festival (CJF), established over 11 years ago in the picturesque walled town of Clonmel, is now in its 11th year and has continued to grow from strength to strength. This year the Festival celebrates participation. The theme weaves its way around the entire programme offering everyone an opportunity to be part of the action. Be part of it!

Full programme details at: http://www.junctionfestival.com

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